Some effects of formaldehyde on the upper respiratory tract.

Being highly soluble in water gaseous formaldehyde (HCHO) is virtually completely removed by the nose during nasal respiration so that nasal disease may follow. This report is a review of pertinent information that is known about the effect of formaldehyde on the nose both in animals and humans. It is evident from the literature that rats develop nasal carcinoma at ambient levels of HCHO occasionally encountered by humans and it is hoped that this report will elucidate the possible threat HCHO presents to humans.